Harry Enfield has revealed that he was banned from performing as a sex-crazed Muslim hoodie and a paedophile Catholic priest in his new BBC comedy show.

Executives at production company Tiger Aspect ordered the 47-year-old comedian to scrap plans for characters Father Paddy and the unnamed Muslim because they ‘might cause trouble’, Enfield said. He added: ‘I was told, “Don’t even go there.” ’

Banned: Characters created by Enfield for the Harry and Paul show were scrapped

The characters were set to appear in Harry And Paul, the BBC series featuring the comedian and his partner Paul Whitehouse, which attracts more than three million viewers.

A spokesman for Tiger Aspect Productions said: ‘The characters never made it further than the page. This was a decision taken collectively by key members of the production team at the time of making the series almost two years ago.’

Family man: Harry with his wife Lucy and daughters Poppy (left) and Marni

The ban comes after the BBC was deluged with complaints about recent EastEnders story lines involving Muslims and paedophiles.

More than 100 viewers complained after a Muslim character was shown breaking his fast during the holy month of Ramadan, and more than 200 people complained about a paedophile grooming a 15-year-old girl.